Coakley's done and there goes the "60th" seat in the Senate. I've made my feelings about her "campaign" pretty clear in my comments. This loss in liberal Massachusetts means so much more for democrats though.
Just look at the recommended diary list and you'll see people calling for Dean play all positions and replace Kaine, Obama, Pelosi, and Reid all at the same time - liberals are starting to revolt against the party. All across the country, Independents are deserting everybody who's a Democrat - nowhere better seen than in Massachusetts. And, Republicans are united in opposition.
So, really, who does Obama and who do the Democrats in congress have left standing with them? Just the moderate Democrats. Obama has a choice now and I hope he makes the goddamn right one. He can further compromise with the Republicans, drag out health care for several more months while the economy goes to shit and people lose jobs.
Or, he can show some actual spine for once, ram health care through with HASTE, and then move on to more popular bills. This is the ONLY way he will keep his base turning out (pass health care). This is the ONLY way he can bring Independents back to the party (take on wall street, BUT YOU NEED TO PASS HEALTH CARE FIRST AND FAST!). This is the ONLY way he can stick it to the Republicans and take the momentum away from them.
I have a strong suspicion, though, that Obama will compromise the shit out the health care bill (if there's anything left to get out of there), at the cost of at least a couple more months, while Wall Street gets off scot free, Jobs sits on the back burner, and Republicans enjoy their obstructionism. I hope he proves me very, very wrong.
So what's the State of the Union, Obama? If you keep compromising and showing no backbone, no one will be left standing with you.